NASCAR tickets are consistently in high demand, with fans eager to experience the excitement firsthand. Tracks like Bristol Motor Speedway are especially popular, drawing an impressive 146,000 fans despite being the shortest track on NASCAR’s calendar. This kind of attendance highlights just how crucial ticket sales are for the sport’s revenue.
In recent years, NASCAR has been working to meet this demand by expanding its ticketing partnerships. After years of working with Tickets.com, NASCAR introduced SeatGeek as a secondary marketplace in 2022. However, the latest addition of Ticketmaster as their new official ticketing partner has caused a stir among fans. Many are concerned that the convenience of the new platform could come with higher prices, potentially making it more expensive for fans to attend races.
Starting with the 2025 season, NASCAR has named Ticketmaster as its sole ticketing partner, eliminating the need for multiple platforms and streamlining the ticketing process. This decision followed a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process to ensure the best fit for the sport’s needs. With Ticketmaster on board, fans will benefit from a unified platform for purchasing tickets to NASCAR events.
According to NASCAR, this partnership aims to simplify ticket purchasing while also enhancing ticket discovery options. Ticketmaster will also manage NASCAR tickets through popular platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and the NASCAR Tracks App. Additionally, the app will fully integrate with Ticketmaster Ignite, offering features such as SafeTix entry, native ticket discovery, and smooth ticket management. These innovations are specifically tailored for NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports events, further improving the overall fan experience.
Ticketmaster’s ongoing partnership with Speedway Motorsports will continue, ensuring efficient and secure ticketing for fans attending these events as well. Tickets for 2024 Speedway Motorsports events and select 2025 NASCAR races are already on sale, with more tickets for NASCAR-owned events expected to be released before the end of 2024. While these changes seem promising from a logistical perspective, not all fans are thrilled about the news.
When NASCAR announced the switch to Ticketmaster, some fans took to social media to express their concerns. Many worried that the new platform would lead to higher ticket prices, a trend they’ve observed with other major events handled by Ticketmaster. These concerns became a hot topic on X (formerly Twitter), where fans voiced their fears over potential price hikes.
One fan even joked that this change might signal the end of NASCAR, sarcastically attributing it to Steve Phelps, the organization’s president since 2018. This sentiment reflects a broader concern that higher ticket prices could alienate some fans, potentially affecting attendance and the sport’s long-term success.
Other fans shared their frustrations, anticipating additional fees associated with Ticketmaster’s platform. One fan sarcastically commented, “That’s a shame; I can’t wait for the fees that will come.” The fear of excessive fees is real for many fans, as NASCAR tickets are already a significant expense. For example, a Daytona 500 ticket package currently ranges from $159 to a staggering $7,954, depending on the package selected.
As more fans weighed in, the conversation continued with sarcastic remarks about the anticipated increase in fees. One fan referenced a popular line from fast-food restaurants, humorously asking, “Would you like some fees with your fees? Ok. That’s going to be an additional fee.” This type of humor underscored the broader frustration with rising costs, particularly when fans feel that convenience features may not justify the higher prices.
Another fan expressed their discontent by pointing out how Ticketmaster’s promised ease of use won’t matter if fans have to pay exorbitant fees. They referenced how a $60 ticket could end up costing an extra $40 in fees, underscoring the perception that the platform’s user-friendly features are overshadowed by excessive costs.
In summary, while NASCAR’s partnership with Ticketmaster promises to streamline the fan experience and make ticket management more efficient, the potential for higher prices and added fees has left some fans feeling uneasy. As NASCAR moves into 2025 with this new ticketing solution, only time will tell whether the benefits outweigh the concerns raised by fans.
NASCAR Teams Up with Ticketmaster to Revolutionize Fan Experience in 2025
